July 2006

July 2006 Secretary’s Report WB&DTUC
For all the latest info on local labour movement events, visit www.wolvestuc.org.uk

TU branches affiliated for 2006, (12,540 affiliated trade unionists):
Amicus-GPM, Amicus 3120M (Craft), Amicus 0758, ASLEF, ASPECT, Community(Hall Palm), CWU(W.Mids & Worcs), CYWU, FBU, GMB X13, NASUWT, NATFHE (University), NUT, TGWU 5/748, TGWU 5/836, UNISON General, UNISON PCT

GARDEN PARTY SUNDAY 16 JULY 2pm till late
@ “Pendle”, Richmond Road, Wolverhampton
REAL ALE – CUBAN COCKTAILS – GOOD FOOD
– free to all friends of Cuba and its allies in Latin America but you’ll need money to buy drinks.

SUNDAY 23 JULY – CUBA DAY SCHOOL 11am – 4 pm
DUNSTALL HILL COMMUNITY CENTRE, WOLVERHAMPTON
DR FRANCISCO DOMINGUEZ, Middlesex University
JESUS GONZALEZ, Economic Counsellor, Cuban Embassy
HARSEV BAINS, National Secretary, Indian Workers’ Association (GB)
DAVE COLE, Secretary, Wolverhampton Cuba Solidarity Campaign
AVTAR SADIQ, Vice-President, Indian Workers’ Association
This event is free to all those who want to learn more about the importance of Cuba in today’s world and the USA’s continuing war against a nation that is bringing hope to the world’s poor.
TO REGISTER,  01902 331478 or 01902 712941
LUNCH & REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED

Rahimi Family Campaign – a successful public meeting Ken Purchase MP spoke – chaired by WB&DTUC, about 40 attended.

Should £25,000million be spent on weapons of mass destruction?
Please write to Rt.Hon Gordon Brown, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Note with interest the remarks in his Mansion House speech about nuclear deterrence & the announcement from Downing Street on 22nd June that there will be a White Paper on the possible replacement of Trident.

Ask:
 what the timeline will be for consultation on the White paper, and why the date for an announcement is so urgent, given that the Defence Committee report says that a decision need not be taken until 2014;
 what form consultation will take, and whether NGOs and interested members of the public will be able to take part;
 whether the consultation will heed the recommendation in the report of the Defence Committee that a full discussion of the role and purpose of the nuclear deterrent needs to happen “before decisions are made or significant investment committed”. (Eighth Report of the House of Commons Defence Committee, The Future of the UK’s Strategic Nuclear Deterrent: The Strategic Context, HC 986);
 whether the “full discussion” will include consideration of current and future threats to the UK, the capability of a nuclear deterrent to address such threats, UK international obligations and proliferation implications, and all the options and their costs, including the option of non-replacement.